Ventilating system for a water closet

ABSTRACT

A ventilating system for a water closet installation comprises a hollow cover member mounted on the flushing tank to replace the standard cover. Extractor fan means in the hollow cover draws foul air from the installation and passes it through a filter to ambient atmosphere. The hollow cover member may also include electrically controlled flush-actuating means.

United States Patent Maisch et al. Jan. 1 1974 1 VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR A WATER 3.605.126 9/1971 Henry 4/72 CLOSET 2,409,048 10/1946 LuMcre 4 215 2,778,033 1/1957 Majauskas 4/213 1 Inventors: Hans M Ernst Jung, both f 2,949,615 8/1960 Farrell 4/216 Gaggenau-Rotenfels, Germany 3,102,275 9/!963 Raymond 4/213 2,017,590 10/1935 Duffner 4/213 [731 Asslgneei Elsenwel'ke Gaggena GmbH, 3,386,109 6/1968 Christian et al. 4/213 Gaggeflau/Baden, Germany 3,436,767 4/1969 Balsay 4/213 3,546,714 12/1970 Middleton. 4/48 [22] 1971 3,585,651 6/1971 Cox 4 213 [21 Appl. No.: 166,449 3,366,979 2/1968 Johnston 4/213 Primary ExaminerHenry K Artis [30] Forelgn Application Prlorlty Data Atwmey E' F. Wenderoth et aL July 30, 1970 Germany P 20 37 830.7

1521 vs. 01 ..4 2 1 3, 4/72, 4/216 [57] ABSTRACT [5|] ,1, C] A47 3 22, 503 9 04 563 3/60 A vent1lating system for a water closet 1nstallat1on [53 Fi ld f Search 4 7 7 A, 72 213-21 comprises a hollow cover member mounted on the 4/4 flushing tank to replace the standard cover. Extractor fan means in the hollow cover draws foul air from the 5 References Cited installation and passes it through a filter to ambient UNITED STATES PATENTS atmosphere. The hollow cover member may also in- 2 100967 I W Jumunen M clude electncally controlled flush-actuatmg means. 2,881,450 4/1959 Tubbs 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure In Vania/'5 HANS MAISCH ERNST JUNG w 9Q Lmi (Pram/Qu- ATTORNEYS 1 VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR A WATER CLOSET FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a ventilating system for a water closet whereby aniextractor extracts foul air from a water closet pan and blows it out through-a filter unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In connection with water closets, ventilating systems of different kinds have already been proposed in which foul air is extracted from the water closet pan either through vents in a hollow pan seat or through the connection for the flushing pipe and the flushing pipe itself. For this purpose the extractor'comprises a fan and a filter unit containing active carbon or like substances which absorb the objectional gases contained in the extracted air. The purified air can then be returned to the ambient atmosphere. In'other forms of construction the malodorous air is conveyed directly from the water closet pan into external air vents or flues, in which case the provision of a filter set may be unnecessary.

Some of the above types of ventilating systems have been designed in the form of units adapted to be placed on or connected to the flushing tank of a water closet. However, experience has shown that in practice such ventilating systems of this design have not been widely adopted because the presence of the extracting unit as an addition or attachment to the flushing tank inter feres with accessibility for cleaning, and the arrangements hitherto proposed fail to meet requirements satisfactorily.

It is an object of the present invention to provide ventilating means for a water closet which'can be used in existing installations without major reconstruction.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide ventilating means for a water closet which besides providing a satisfactory ventilating effect is also acceptable from the point of view of hygiene and does not interfere with the convenience of cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A ventilating system for a water closet has an extractor means in the cover of the flushing tank to extract foul air through flushing valve means and from the space communicating above the water level in the tank with the extractor means. An extractor fan means is contained in a hollow cover member that can be placed on the flushing tank in the form of an exchangeable unit, and filter means is provided on the upstream side of air outlet means of thehollow cover member.

The possibility offeredby the invention of accommodating all the components of the extractor means, including the fan, the filter unit and the associated control means, inside a double-walled hollow cover member means that such a cover member can then simply be placed on the flushing tank'in exchange for an ordinary standard cover. This permits existing water closet installations to be very easily modified without any structural change from the original form.

Flushing valve means which controls the discharge of the water from the flushing tank into the pan of the water closet can be arranged .to assume either of two operating conditions, the first ventilate condition in which the valve means normally rests providing direct communication between the flushing pipe and the space above the water level in the tank which is in communication with the exractor. In the second flush condition the valve means allows the water in the tank to descend into the flushing pipe. In other words, whilst the flushing valve is in position of rest there is direct communication between the extractor means and the flushing pipe and foul air can be extracted without meeting much resistance. The extracting process can continue during flushing or it is also possible to interrupt it during flushing and to resume extraction for a time after flushing is over.

Moreover, the ventilating system may also with advantage be equipped with electrical control means switched by a switch contact mountable under the toilet seat in such manner that the flushing valve and the extractor means are operable for ventilating the flushing by reference to the weight on the seat. Also, further advantage can be gained by using the electrical control means to control electromagnetically operated means accommodated inside the hollow cover member of the flushing tank and linked to a level which operates the flushing valve means. This provides a particularly simple arrangement for actuating the flushing valve means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing shows in schematic part-sectional outline of an embodiment ofa ventilating system of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawing shows a water closet flushing tank 1 comprising a hollow cover member or lid 2 in the form ofa replaceable unit and in which are contained all the components of an extractor set. The hollow cover member or lid 2 comprises an exterior wall 24 and an inner wall 25 which enclose the hollow interior of the cover member. The flushing tank 1 flushes through a flushing pipe 3 which is attached to a connection 4 on the body of the water closet pan 5. For the sake of convenience the flushing pipe 3 is shown cut, and the flushing tank is shown in a position normal to that which it would normally occupy above the hinged seat 21 of the pan 5.

The extractor set mounted within the hollow cover member or lid 2 includesa fan 6 mounted on inner wall 25 and which extracts the air from the space 7 above the level of the water 8 in the tank 1 and delivers it to an active filter unit 9 containing active carbon or other filtering agent. After having passed through the active filter unit 9 the air escapes into the ambient atmosphere through an outlet 10 in the exterior wall 24. The hollow cover or lid 2 is preferably made so that it forms a substantially air-tight seal with the rim of the tank 1 whereby the only communication between the space 7 and the ambient atmosphere is through the fan 6, the filter unit 9 and the outlet 10 in the cover 2.

For hand-operation the flushing tank 1 contains a flushing lever 12 pivotably mounted at 11. A flushing bell 13 is suspended from the end of the lever. Inside the flushing bell 13 is a riser pipe 14 which carries a washered valve member 15 at its bottom end the upper end of the riser pipe 14 reaching a level within the bell 13 above the level 8 of the water in tank 1. Normally the valve member 15 rests in sealing position against a valve seat 16 formed at the end of flushing pipe 3 where the pipe enters tank 1. Hence the interior of the flushing pipe 3 is normally continuously and directly in communication, through the riser pipe 14 and one or more openings 23 in the top of the bell 13, with the space 7 above the water level 8 in the flushing tank 1. When the bell 13 is lifted by a pull on lever 12 the bell 13 lifts the valve member 15 so that the seal between valve member 15 and seat 16 is broken so that the water in tank 1 rushes into the flushing pipe 3.

Apart from manual operation provision is made inside the hollow cover member or lid 2 for an electromagnet 17 having an armature 18 so linked to the flushing lever 12 that energisation of the electromagnet 17 will initiate the flush. The electro-magnet 17 is controlled by electrical control means 19 likewise mounted in the cover member or lid 2 and activated through leads 22 by a switch contact located at the forward edge of the toilet seat 21. This permits the system to be controlled for switching between its normal ventilate condition and the flush condition in any desired sequence independently of the weight loading the seat 21. The electrical control means 19 suitably also control the extractor fan 16. The electrical control means 19 can give a time delay of predetermined extension, so that the flush condition starts after some time, if the person having used the water closet forgets to actuate the flushing lever 12.

We claim:

1. A ventilating system for a water closet including a water closet pan and a flushing tank connected thereto by a flushing pipe, said ventilating system comprising a hollow cover member adapted to be removably fitted onto said flushing tank to replace a normal one-piece cover member, means for normally establishing communication between said flushing valve means positioned within said tank, flushing pipe and the space above the water level in said tank through said flushing valve means, said flushing valve means when actuated allowing water from said flushing tank to descend into said flushing pipe, said cover member including extractor fan means operable to withdraw air from said space within said tank and pass said air to the interior of said hollow cover member, outlet means providing an outlet from said interior of said hollow cover member to the ambient atmosphere immediately adjacent said water closet, and air filter means arranged in the outlet path of said air before said outlet means.

2. A ventilating system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising electromagnetically operated means fitted in said hollow cover means for actuating said flushing valve means in said flushing tank.

3. A ventilating system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electromagnetically operated means include an electromagnet having an armature, said armature being linked to a flushing lever for actuating said flushing valve means.

4. A ventilating system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flushing valve means includes valve means situated at the end of said flushing pipe where said flushing pipe enters said flushing tank. 1

5. A ventilating system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said communication normally established between said flushing pipe and said space above the water level in said tank is established through said flushing valve means.

6. A ventilating system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising electrical control means for controlling operation of said electromagnetically operated means and said extractor fan means, and contact means mountable under a seat for the water closet pan for switching said control means. 

1. A ventilating system for a water closet including a water closet pan and a flushing tank connected thereto by a flushing pipe, said ventilating system comprising a hollow cover member adapted to be removably fitted onto said flushing tank to replace a normal one-piece cover member, means for normally establishing communication between said flushing valve means positioned within said tank, flushing pipe and the space above the water level in said tank through said flushing valve means, said flushing valve means when actuated allowing water from said flushing tank to descend into said flushing pipe, said cover member including extractor fan means operable to withdraw air from said space within said tank and pass said air to the interior of said hollow cover member, outlet means providing an outlet from said interior of said hollow cover member to the ambient atmosphere immediately adjacent said water closet, and air filter means arranged in the outlet path of said air before said outlet means.
 2. A ventilating system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising electromagnetically operated means fitted in said hollow cover means for actuating said flushing valve means in said flushing tank.
 3. A ventilating system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electromagnetically operated means include an electromagnet having an armature, said armature being linked to a flushing lever for actuating said flushing valve means.
 4. A ventilating system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flushing valve means includes valve means situated at the end of said flushing pipe where said flushing pipe enters said flushing tank.
 5. A ventilating system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said communication normally established between said flushing pipe and said space above the water level in said tank is established through said flushing valve means.
 6. A ventilating system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising electrical control means for controlling operation of said electromagnetically operated means and said extractor fan means, and contact means mountable under a seat for the water closet pan for switching said control means. 